Tsvangirai claims backing for senate boycott

Tsvangirai claims backing for senate boycott

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By Cris Chinaka

ZIMBABWE opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Saturday his party's national council backs his call for a boycott of senate polls, but MDC ranks are divided as a pro-election faction shunned a key meeting.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has plunged into its deepest crisis since it emerged in 1999 due to a bitter row over whether to take part in a poll which critics say is aimed at consolidating President Robert Mugabe's power.

Tsvangirai last month ordered a boycott of the November 26 poll, saying competing would lend legitimacy to a government that routinely rigs votes.

But some MDC members defied his instructions and have registered as candidates for just over half of the 50 seats up for grabs in the elections.

On Saturday, Tsvangirai said the MDC's decision-making national council had reversed a "purported decision" it had taken last month to participate in the elections.

The pro-senate election faction says Tsvangirai, who has backing from leaders of the MDC's powerful youth and women's leagues, took a dictatorial position after the party's national council voted 33-31 to participate in the polls.

But Tsvangirai maintains the party was evenly split over the issue and he used his presidential authority to boycott, and on Saturday the MDC boss said the party's national council had endorsed his stance.

"For the avoidance of doubt this council resolves that the MDC will not participate in the senatorial election ... and shall accordingly campaign against this election," he said, reading the resolutions of the MDC's national council meeting.

MDC officials said Saturday's meeting had been attended by 46 of the party's 70 national councillors from 9 of the MDC's 12 administrative provinces, but was notably boycotted by a faction in favour of taking part in the polls.

There was no immediate comment from the faction. But on Friday MDC deputy secretary-general Gift Chimanikire said Tsvangirai had no authority to call Saturday's meeting and its outcome would not be binding.

The MDC says Mugabe's ZANU-PF party has used rigging and violence to avoid defeat in parliamentary and presidential elections in the last five years in the face of a worsening economic crisis.

Mugabe, 81, and in power since independence from Britain in 1980, accuses the MDC of being a puppet of the former colonial power.

Mugabe's critics say his policies have ruined a once prosperous African country, and have left it struggling with severe shortages of food, fuel and foreign currency, and with rising inflation and unemployment.

Mugabe says the economy is a victim of sabotage by his domestic foes and of sanctions imposed by Western powers seeking to oust him for seizing and redistributing white-owned farms to his black supporters.

Tsvangirai said on Saturday the MDC had set up a four-member committee to try to reconcile the party's opposing factions, but said there was no need for the pro-election faction to approach South African President Thabo Mbeki to act as mediator.

"It's an internal issue we can handle on our own, and there is no need to abuse President Mbeki's hospitality," he said.
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